Buy Zacuto Z-Finder Pro 2.5XZacuto Z-Finder Pro 2.5X Product Description:
- 3x Extender Frames
- Gorilla Plate with DSLR Short Body Frame (Canon 5D/7D type cameras)
- Lens Cap & Protective Boot
- Lanyard Hook and Lanyard
- 2.5x Magnification Anti-Fog Coating Lens
Product Description
The Z-Finder Pro 2.5x is another one of Zacuto's Optical Viewfinders that allows DSLR cameras to have the correct form factor for video. It offers 2.5x focusable magnification (a 3x magnification is available), a 40mm diameter Zacuto optical designed Anti-Fog lens, an eyecup preventing extraneous light leakage, a diopter and a field of view perfectly matched to 3" LCD screens. The diopter allows you to dial in the focus to match your eye perfectly. If you need extra focal point you can use the Z-Finder Extender Frames. The Z-Finder Pro 2.5x has a diopter range of -4.75 and up (unlimited with extender frames). These are semi-permanently stackable frames that attach to the skirt of the Z-Finder Pro and extends the Z-Finder glass further way from the LCD screen for people who are farsighted. The Z-Finder Pro uses the Gorilla Baseplate and Z-Finder mounting frame to mount to the camera. The Gorilla Baseplate attaches to the bottom of your camera using a 1/4 20" screw and the Z-Finder mounting frame attaches to the Gorilla Baseplate using thumb screws. The rubber back mounting frame does not attach to your LCD; it is held in place against your LCD with pressure. This method allows you to quickly remove the Z-Finder Pro by snapping it off the frame. If you want to remove the entire mounting frame from your camera, you can do so by loosening the thumb screws and pulling up on the metal mounting frame to release it. With the Z-Finder Pro, you are also a step closer to using one of the Gorilla Support Rigs, as they use the same baseplate as the base.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
Essential video tool! See update tweak.
By Craig Hartley
I bought a Zacuto Z-Finder 2.5x to take advantage of the tremendous video opportunities with the Canon 5DII. With or without glasses, you simply can not focus this camera in video mode without some sort of magnifying setup. The Z-Finder is a professional viewfinder that is head-and-shoulders better than imitators.First off, it works perfectly! Focusing is tack sharp and I can even shoot moving subjects. This is a high-quality optical viewfinder that covers the entire live view screen from side-to-side. The fit is tight and secure on the back of the camera. It takes a pretty good yank to remove the Z-Finder, plus it has a safety loop you can secure around your neck or the camera.The anti-fog disk over the rear eyepiece works great. I've used my Z-Finder in the humid, steamy air of Houston after a rainstorm, and it never has a hint of fog. Zacuto includes an extra anti-fog disk in case you ever damage the original.The tough machined aluminum Gorilla Plate (included) attaches to the camera's tripod socket, then the Z-Finder's mounting frame connects to the plate via an odd combination of thumb wheels and hex nuts. You can still connect the camera to a standard tripod with the Gorilla Plate attached. The Z-Finder is not difficult to attach, but take care to center the viewfinder perfectly. The thumb wheel/flange connection almost doesn't fit with the 5DII, but it is secure when tight. The mounting frame's flange should be 1/4 inch longer.One annoying design quirk is a big protruding knob on the rear of the Gorilla Plate. It makes it very difficult to reach the on/off switch on the Canon 5DII.I'm giving the Z-Finder 4 instead of 5 stars because of: 1. the high cost, 2. the mounting frame flange almost doesn't fit, 3. the annoying and ill-placed tightening knob.But at this time, there simply isn't any other pro-level viewfinder for DSLR video photography. If you are serious about DSLR video, don't hesitate!UPDATE: Don't know why I didn't think about this earlier. I used a hex wrench to remove that darn protruding red knob on the back of the Gorilla Plate. Now I can reach my camera's "on/off" switch! Gee, it only took a year to realize this.UPDATE 2: This week I shot stills and video all day long of a huge sculpture being moved across town. The Zacuto worked great. All the video is sharp and the Zacuto never showed any sign of slippage despite some pretty rough treatment.
14 of 18 people found the following review helpful.
Save $140.00, buy the parts on Amazon
By King Edward
Like any DSLR videographer, I'm looking for a quality viewfinder, preferably one I don't have to glue or 3M a LCD frame to my camera. However, I don't want to dish out $375.00 either! (A viewfinder should not cost more than a camera lens!) So I did my research. Turns out you can recreate this EXACT viewfinder by buying it in 3 different pieces and save $140.00! And you can buy all of these pieces right here on Amazon. (Hopefully this has your attention!) You can also look at the pictures of the Zacuto Z-Finder and the pictures of the other 3 pieces and you will see they indeed are the exact same.The pieces needed to put together your own Z-Finder are as follows:Zacuto Z-GRB Gorilla BaseplateZacuto Z-MFS Z-Finder Mounting Frame for Small DSLR BodiesVF Prime DSLR Camera LCD Viewfinder for 3" LCDTwo of the pieces are even made by Zacuto, and the viewfinder is molded exactly like the Zacuto viewfinder, likely made in the same factory...This way you won't have to worry about sticking the adhesive LCD viewfinder frame directly to your expensive DSLR! I don't want to pay $375.00 for this overpriced item, you shouldn't have to either!
8 of 11 people found the following review helpful.Extremely Overpirced Zacuto Z-Finder Pro 2.5x
By pto189
The material overall is in the same class as the view finders that are sold at $30, less than 1/10 of the price of the Z-Finder. The foam on the base plate attached to the LCD screen is poorly glued and misaligned. Zacuto claimed that the place is secured on the Canon 5D II, and this is not true. The red screws just barely touche the base plate. The connection of the eye piece to the plate is so badly designed that you will break the plate easily everything time you try to remove the eye piece. If you want to try this product, buy it from a decent seller with no hassle return policy such as Adorama because you will return it as I did.
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